Undi18: Harapan Youth moots 'Bersih 6' if govt refuses to lower voting age
The newly minted Pakatan Harapan Youth chief today hinted at a mass protest rally should the government still refuse to implement the Undi18 initiative by July this year as per its original timeline.
Shazni Munir Mohd Ithnin (above) said in a statement the rakyat was now at the crossroads between fighting the Covid-19 pandemic and abiding by "double standards" standard operating procedures or standing up for their democratic rights.
The newly minted Pakatan Harapan Youth chief today hinted at a mass protest rally should the government still refuse to implement the Undi18 initiative by July this year as per its original timeline.
Shazni Munir Mohd Ithnin (above) said in a statement the rakyat was now at the crossroads between fighting the Covid-19 pandemic and abiding by "double standards" standard operating procedures or standing up for their democratic rights.
"My answer is that we must unite and move together. The cause of these two problems is a cheating and selfish government.
"Thus, action to get all civil movements and stakeholders together must start from now. If in the end we are left with a 'Bersih 6' as the only option, and with strict SOPs compliance, we are confident that thousands of the rakyat will return to the streets," he said.
Shazni was referring to the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih) which is well known for organising mass protest rallies in the country to fight for democracy and electoral issues, among others.
Bersih had organised up to five street demonstrations between 2007 and 2016.
In 2019, the Dewan Rakyat unanimously supported amendments to lower the voting age as well as the age for election candidacy to 18 years. The amendments also allow for automatic voter registration.
They were gazetted on Sept 10 that year.
However, on March 25, the Election Commission decided to postpone the implementation of Undi18, including automatic voter registration to Sept 1 next year.
Shazni in his statement also praised the action of 18 youths who recently filed a judicial review case against the prime minister and the government over the postponement.
They are seeking a court order to declare the postponement as invalid and that all youths between the ages of 18 and 20 are eligible to cast their votes by July 2021.
"This action had to be taken by the group of youths to demand that the Muhyiddin Yassin government that is supported by Umno and PAS return their rights which have been taken away from them.
"It is clear that the government of today is insulting the maturity and capability that the youths have. Their common sense has been impacted by their addiction to power," Shazni added.
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